It is December 23rd -- "Christmas Eve Eve," as my daughter likes to call it -- and I find myself pondering the meaning of Christmas. Frankly I think many of us have been misled. There are many commonly held misconceptions when it comes to the traditional Christmas story, and we have popular cultural representations to blame for most of these. Some examples:
- Mary rode a donkey to Bethlehem, right? Maybe. The Bible, however, says nothing about a Donkey or any other conveyance. Most scholars believe that since beasts of burden would have been luxury items for the families of Nazareth, it was likely that Mary walked. But we all have the image of her on a donkey.
- How many Wise Men were there? Three? Maybe. We are told that there were three gifts, but the Bible makes no mention of the number of wise men. We just assume it was a one:one gift:Magi ratio.
- And speaking of Wise Men, they showed up at the stable shortly after the shepherds, right? Nope. A careful reading of Scripture shows that they visited the infant Jesus at a house, some time after his birth. Perhaps even several months or a couple of years afterward, which is why Herod ordered the killing of all male children under the age of two, once he learned from the Magi exactly when the Star had first appeared.
However, some of our misconceptions are less than harmless. One misconception in particular has caused thousands if not millions of people around the world, generation after generation, to completely miss the true meaning of Christmas, the life and death meaning of Christmas. There are two major camps when it comes to answering the question, "What is the meaning of Christmas?": (1) Christians, and (2) non-Christians who celebrate Christmas. For my purposes today I'm going to ignore those who like to point out things like pagan origins and symbolism, because those folks are only interested in undermining Christmas rather than celebrating it.
The Meaning of Christmas For Christians
For Christians, Christmas is the celebration and commemoration of the birth of the infant Jesus, the Christ Child, who would one day die to save us from our sins. Emmanuel: "God with us." God, the Father, sending His only Son down to us, the King of Kings being born in the humblest of circumstances so that one day through Him, man's relationship with God can be restored and we can live with God eternally as He intended from the dawn of creation. It's a love story of God embarking upon a rescue mission in disguise, behind enemy lines, in the dark of night all to rescue His wayward Bride. Christmas is Hope. Hope for an eternal future with God. Hope for salvation from the sinful nature that separates us from The Father.
The Meaning of Christmas For non-Christians who still celebrate Christmas
For non-Christians who still celebrate Christmas some of these same elements still embody the meaning of Christmas, but in a much more vague and illusive form. Christmas is still hope, although hope for what exactly is not clear. Christmas is love, and family, and friends. God's gift to us in His Son echoes even in the secular celebration, as Christmas is the season of giving, both to those in need and to family and loved ones. Christmas also means Peace. Peace and goodwill to all men.
It is in this last supposed meaning of Christmas that we have been misled: "peace and goodwill to all men." Where does this come from? Most of us know -- if not from our own Bible reading, then from Linus' words to Charlie Brown -- that it's what the angels said to the shepherds in the fields the night of Christ's birth. We've come to accept these words as the "true meaning of Christmas." Peace and goodwill for everyone. But we've been misled. We've been misled by, of all things, the Bible itself. Specifically the King James translation of the Bible.
Luke 2:14 in the King James reads "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" For hundreds of years this was the only English translation of the Bible, and consequently it became the very core of the Christmas message for generation after generation of Christian and non-Christian alike. Unfortunately the scholars employed by King James to translate the Bible from Latin to English missed some subtle but vitally important meaning in the angels' words to the shepherds.
The word that the King James version translates as "goodwill" is an ancient Greek word, "eudokia." This word does indeed imply goodwill; however, its root words also convey a very particular type of goodwill intended for those who possess a good reputation with the one bestowing the good will; those whom the giver holds in good favor or esteem. This is why virtually every Bible translation undertaken since the King James version has translated Luke 2:14 as "...on earth peace, goodwill among men with whom He is pleased, or alternatively "...goodwill to men upon whom His favor rests." Unfortunately these translations are not well known outside of the Church, and even then only to those Believers and congregations that use translations other than the King James. Consequently many miss an important element of the true meaning of Christmas.
The goodwill of God that we celebrate at Christmas time is not a generic blanket of goodwill available for everyone without qualification. God loves the entire world, to be sure (John 3:16). God the Father desires that everyone would benefit from the gift of His Son (2 Peter 3:9); however, in order to receive the benefits of the greatest of all gifts, one must be desiring and seeking to return to God and His favor. Those not desiring to restore their relationship with a Holy God cannot benefit from the gift of God's Son, given by the Father for the very purpose of restoring that relationship.
The meaning of Christmas is twofold. It is not simply God's expression of His desire to bestow peace and goodwill to all of us, but it is also the very means and instructions as to how we can enter in to that Divine peace and goodwill. As Christ Himself told his disciples 33 years later, He is not only the Truth and the Life. He is the Way! (John 14:6).
One of my favorite shows as a kid was the Greatest American Hero. Many of you over the age of 35 will remember this show. It's the story of Ralph Hinkley, a high-school teacher who is given a "super suit" by benevolent aliens from outer space who want to help save us earthlings from ourselves. The suit grants Hinkley super-human powers, but unfortunately the aliens are scared off by government agents before they can instruct Hinkley on how to use the suit, and he loses the instruction manual. Ralph's efforts to fight evil while learning how the suit works "on the job" are pure TV sci-fi/comedy gold. At least they were to me when I was eight.
What's my point? Too many of us are like Ralph Hinkley. We're aware that God has given us a Gift in His Son, Jesus Christ, and that this gift is somehow connected with hope, peace, and goodwill from God, Himself. But the instructions have been lost. Luke 2:14, when properly translated and understood, serves as the preface of God's instructions. In that verse and those preceding, the angels tell us two things. First we hear that God has given a gift to ALL men, namely His Son, a Savior who is Christ the Lord. Then we learn that in this gift are the keys to God's goodwill, a goodwill He longs for us to enjoy once again. The key is that we are to be men and women upon whom God's favor rests, with whom He is pleased. But through poor translation we've lost the second part. We've lost the key.
How do we become such men and women? How do we find God's favor? How do we please Him? That, my brothers and sisters, is where the rest of the instruction manual comes in to play. In Jeremiah 29:13 God tells us through His prophet that "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Later in Hebrews 11:6 we learn that God "...rewards those who earnestly seek him." Seek God in His Word, the Bible, and seek Him in earnest prayer. Cry out to God, and He promises to hear and come running. Psalm 34:17 and 145:19 both assure us that when we choose to acknowledge God and our position in relation to Him (called "fearing" the Lord, or respecting Him), and when we cry out to Him, He hears, He responds, and He restores. God longs to save those who cry out to Him. These are the men and women "upon whom His favor rests."
I think if we are honest with ourselves, we know we need the promises of Christmas in our lives. Life can seem hopeless, without meaning. We live in a world that often seems to have little goodwill for anyone. As people, we rarely have goodwill for one another. This was never God's ultimate plan for us. God longs to restore your hope. He wants to BE your hope. He wants to give you peace, a peace between you and Himself, but also the peace that comes from knowing that there is a God who is good, and who loves you, and who is in control. He longs to draw us into His goodwill that you might receive the gift of His Son. He longs to fill you so full of His love for you, that you cannot help but overflow with love for others and recognize the love others have for you. He longs to give you a joy that is impervious to your circumstances because it is based on something that never changes: God's love for you.
My prayer for us all this Christmas season is that we would rediscover God's instruction manual, wherein lies the true meaning of Christmas. I pray we would come to understand the meaning in the words the angels brought to the shepherds two thousand years ago: Earnestly seek God -- cry out to Him -- that you might regain His favor and goodwill. Then the promise of the Christ Child can be your own: the hope of salvation and an end of enmity between God and Man. The restoration of a Bride to her Groom, of children to their Father.
If it's been a while since you talked to God, I would encourage you to lift a prayer to Him this Christmas. Approach Him with honesty and share with him what's on your heart. 1 Peter 5:7 says, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." Then spend some time quietly in His presence. He will respond.
If it's been a while since you read God's Word, the Bible -- or perhaps you never have -- then maybe this Christmas holiday would be a good time to do that, either alone with God as you have some quiet time, or with your family as you gather together. The Gospel of John or the Book of Romans are great places to start, as well as the Christmas story in Luke 2 and Matthew 1. Of course I recommend that you choose a translation other than the King James. ;) Then find a Christian friend or family member you trust to help guide you further on your journey. If you can't think of anyone who fits the bill, drop me a line at lee.mayhew@yahoo.com. I'd be happy to pray with you and for you, answer any questions you may have, and help you any way that I can.
May God bless you and yours this Christmas and always!
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